Flat River Group acquires games publisher Synapses Games and distributor Luma Imports, Expands Publishing and Distribution

Flat River Group is acquiring two Canadian companies, expanding its publishing and distribution capabilities and team, the company announced. Flat River Group, a 1st party e-commerce partner which also serves the hobby trade through its Impressions Game Distribution unit, now adds distributor and publisher Luma Imports and publisher Synapses Games. Luma Imports provides North American distribution and marketing for Horrible Guild, Bombyx Studios, Sit Down Games, Holy Grail Games, and others.

Flat River Group acquires games publisher Synapses Games and distributor Luma Imports

BELDING, MI March 14, 2022 – Flat River Group, a 1st party ecommerce partner, announced today the acquisition of Luma Imports, a game distributor and Synapses Games, a tabletop game publisher and design house.


Founded in 2018 and based in Delaware, Luma Imports represents the English-language catalogues for a roster of European publishers such as Horrible Guild, Bombyx Studios, Sit Down, Holy Grail Games, and many others. They also distribute Synapses Games, which was founded in 2018 and is based in Montreal, Canada. They publish the award-winning CĂłatl, as well as the upcoming Betta and Draw the Line, and are distributed in more than 40 countries.

“My relationships with Matt and Carl go back through many organizations and many years,” said Jules Vautour, president and founder of Luma Imports. “FRG has been a key partner in Luma’s success. The synergy that already exists between the Luma, FRG, and Synapses teams promises a smooth transition and ensures the continuation of growth between our teams and the publishers we represent.” 


“My team and I are thrilled to join the Flat River Group and continue working with the Luma Imports team,” said Carl Brière, publisher and founder of Synapses Games. “The board game industry has been expanding rapidly over the past few years and this marriage of companies will allow us to achieve even greater heights thanks to our complementary strengths.”


Jules and Carl have worked together previously at both Asmodee USA and CMON and have collaborated extensively with their existing companies. Both are very excited to bring their respective companies into Flat River Group and resume their long-standing working relationship.


“We’ve worked with Jules and Carl for almost a decade, and we place a great value on their skills and relationships in the industry,” said Matt Stahlin, president of Flat River Group. “We are excited about what this means for our ability to find great games earlier in their life cycle and get them into the hands of consumers through both hobby and mass retail channels. This fits in well with our recent acquisition of Greater than Games.”


About Synapses Games
Synapses Games is a Canadian board game publisher that was founded in 2018. The company develops and publishes games that are easy to learn, user-friendly, quick to explain and that can be enjoyed by beginners and more strategic players alike. Synapses Games wishes to create games that elicit emotions and connect players.


About Luma Imports
Founded in 2018, Luma Imports is a board game publisher and wholesaler that serves a family of publishers including Horrible Guild, Bombyx Studios, Sit Down Games, Holy Grail Games, and many others. Luma provides distribution, retail, and marketing services for the United States and other English-language territories.


About Flat River Group
Established in 2011, Flat River Group has over a decade of experience as a leading 1st party ecommerce partner. They take their vendors’ businesses to the next level by owning their inventory and accelerating rapid sales growth, all while maintaining vendors’ brand integrity and elevating reputation. Flat River Group buys inventory, warehouses it, sells it to 15+ major ecommerce retailers, manages product listings and inventory, and fulfills dropship and distribution center orders. They are truly a unique partner, with 1st Party Seller (1P) status and best-in-class dropship capability. They specialize in partnering with consumer goods manufacturers including toys & games, pets, baby, outdoor sporting goods and more. The company is based in Belding, Michigan, US and has three other locations in Michigan, Illinois and Missouri. Flat River Group has earned the honor of being listed as one of Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 fastest growing private companies in America three times, in 2016, 2017 and 2021. For more information, visit www.flatrivergroup.com. 

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Flat River Group Media Contact     
Katie Kett
Marketing Manager | Flat River Group
kkett@flatrivergroup.com | (616) 794-5496 x181

 
Flat River Group acquiert l’Ă©diteur de jeux Synapses Games et le distributeur Luma Imports

BELDING, ÉTATS-UNIS, 14 mars 2022 – Flat River Group, distributeur spĂ©cialisĂ© dans le e-commerce sans intermĂ©diaire, annonce aujourd’hui l’acquisition de Luma Imports, un distributeur de jeux, et de Synapses Games, un studio de crĂ©ation et Ă©diteur de jeux de sociĂ©tĂ©.

FondĂ© en 2018 et basĂ© dans le Delaware, Luma Imports reprĂ©sente les catalogues anglophones de plusieurs Ă©diteurs europĂ©ens tels que Horrible Guild, Bombyx Studios, Sit Down, Holy Grail Games et bien d’autres. Il distribue Ă©galement Synapses Games, qui a Ă©tĂ© fondĂ© en 2018 et est basĂ© Ă  MontrĂ©al, au Canada. Le studio, dont les jeux sont distribuĂ©s dans plus de 40 pays, publie notamment le jeu primĂ© CĂłatl, ainsi que les prochains titres Ă  paraĂ®tre cette annĂ©e : Betta et Fous Ă  Lier.

«Mes relations avec Matt et Carl remontent à de nombreuses années et dans plusieurs organisations», déclare Jules Vautour, président et fondateur de Luma Imports. «FRG a été un partenaire clé de la réussite de Luma. La synergie qui existe déjà entre les équipes de Luma, FRG et Synapses promet une transition en douceur et assure la poursuite de la croissance entre nos équipes et les éditeurs que nous représentons.»

«Mon Ă©quipe et moi sommes ravis de rejoindre Flat River Group et de continuer Ă  travailler avec l’Ă©quipe de Luma Imports», mentionne Carl Brière, Ă©diteur et fondateur de Synapses Games. «L’industrie du jeu de sociĂ©tĂ© est en pleine expansion depuis quelques annĂ©es et ce mariage d’entreprises nous permettra de rĂ©aliser nos grandes aspirations grâce Ă  nos forces complĂ©mentaires.»

Jules et Carl ont prĂ©cĂ©demment travaillĂ© ensemble chez Asmodee USA et CMON en plus de collaborer Ă©troitement depuis la crĂ©ation de leur companie respective. Ils sont tous deux très enthousiastes Ă  l’idĂ©e de faire entrer Luma Imports et Synapses Games dans Flat River Group et de reprendre leur relation de travail de longue date.

«Nous travaillons avec Jules et Carl depuis près de dix ans et nous accordons une grande valeur Ă  leurs compĂ©tences et Ă  leurs relations dans l’industrie», dĂ©clare Matt Stahlin, prĂ©sident de Flat River Group. «Nous sommes ravis d’accroĂ®tre notre expertise Ă  trouver de grands jeux, dès leur crĂ©ation, et Ă  les offrir aux consommateurs par le biais des boutiques spĂ©cialisĂ©es et des magasins Ă  grande surface. Cela s’inscrit parfaitement dans le cadre de notre rĂ©cente acquisition du studio Greater Than Games.»

Ă€ propos de Synapses Games

Synapses Games est un Ă©diteur canadien de jeux de sociĂ©tĂ© qui a Ă©tĂ© fondĂ© en 2018. L’entreprise dĂ©veloppe et publie des jeux faciles Ă  apprendre, conviviaux, rapides Ă  expliquer et qui peuvent ĂŞtre apprĂ©ciĂ©s autant par les nĂ©ophytes que les joueurs fins stratèges. Ce que Synapses Games cherche Ă  crĂ©er, c’est de l’émotion et des connections entre les joueurs, exactement comme les synapses des neurones !

Ă€ propos de Luma Imports

FondĂ© en 2018, Luma Imports est un Ă©diteur et un distributeur de jeux de sociĂ©tĂ© qui offre des services Ă  plusieurs Ă©diteurs, notamment Horrible Guild, Bombyx Studios, Sit Down Games, Holy Grail Games et bien d’autres. Luma assure la distribution, la vente au dĂ©tail et le marketing des jeux pour les États-Unis et d’autres territoires anglophones.

Ă€ propos de Flat River Group

FondĂ© en 2011, Flat River Group a plus de dix ans d’expĂ©rience en tant que partenaire de premier plan dans le domaine du e-commerce. Il amène les entreprises au niveau supĂ©rieur en Ă©tant propriĂ©taire de leur inventaire et en accĂ©lĂ©rant la croissance rapide des ventes, tout en maintenant l’intĂ©gritĂ© de la marque et en Ă©levant la rĂ©putation de leurs clients. Flat River Group achète les inventaires, les entrepose, les vend Ă  plus de 15 dĂ©taillants majeurs du e-commerce, gère les listes de produits et les inventaires et exĂ©cute les commandes de livraison et de centres de distribution. Flat River Group est vraiment un partenaire unique grâce Ă  son statut de revendeur sans intermĂ©diaire et dĂ©tient la meilleure capacitĂ© de livraison directe de sa catĂ©gorie. La sociĂ©tĂ© est spĂ©cialisĂ©e dans les partenariats avec les fabricants de biens de consommation, notamment pour les catĂ©gories de jouets et les jeux, les animaux de compagnie, les articles de bĂ©bĂ©s, les articles de sport et de plein air, etc. La sociĂ©tĂ© est basĂ©e Ă  Belding, dans le Michigan, aux États-Unis, et dispose de trois autres sites dans le Michigan, l’Illinois et le Missouri. Flat River Group a eu l’honneur de figurer dans la liste des sociĂ©tĂ©s Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 des entreprises privĂ©es amĂ©ricaines Ă  la croissance la plus rapide Ă  trois reprises, soit en 2016, 2017 et 2021. Pour plus d’informations, visitez le www.flatrivergroup.com.

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SOURCE :

Flat River Group

Katie Kett

Directrice marketing

kkett@flatrivergroup.com | (616) 794-5496 x181